Cruising Life

Amphibious Car Cruises Start Again on Orlando Lake

By Peter Janssen on June 2, 2020 Cruising Life

If the COVID-19 crisis has put a crimp in your cruising plans this summer, take heart. Now you can take a cruise around Lake Buena Vista just south of Orlando in one of The Boathouse’s vintage amphibious cars. It’s not exactly an offshore voyage, or even a daytrip on the ICW, but it does look like fun. The Boathouse just announced that it is reopening its amphicar business in Disney Springs, and it’s offering a significant discount to get people back on the water. Usually a ticket for a 20-minute ride costs $125; now it’s down to $75. Each ride…

Yanmar Developing Faster, Safer, Autonomous Offshore Boat

By Peter Janssen on June 2, 2020 Cruising Life

Yanmar is moving ahead quickly in the field of creating a totally autonomous blue-water boat, one that navigates and docks all on its own. The company already has developed a docking system that works much faster than a previous version, and an offshore nav system that seems much safer. Yanmar is concentrating on its autonomous marine technology largely because of labor shortages in Japan’s fisheries industries – at a time when the marine aquaculture industry is booming in Asia. The engine builder wants to create a vessel that can serve the fishing fleet without the need to put a crew…

Why Did This Superyacht Sink? See Video

By Peter Janssen on May 31, 2020 Cruising Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suc8pgfB1O0&t=72s

Evinrude, an American Institution, Shuts Down

By Peter Janssen on May 28, 2020 Cruising Life

An American institution, Evinrude outboards just show down. BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) made the announcement, closing Evinrude’s plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and saying it will focus on its boat brands and other marine products. “Our outboard engines business has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, obliging us to discontinue production of our outboard motors immediately,” said José Boisjoli, the president and CEO of BRP. “This business segment had already been facing some challenges and the impact of the current context has forced our hand.” The BRP announcement said the company will use the Sturtevant plant “for new projects to pursue our…

Yacht Hits Savannah Jetty. Coast Guard Rescues 5

By Peter Janssen on May 26, 2020 Cruising Life

The Coast Guard rescued five people after their 57-foot yacht hit a jetty at night in Savannah, Georgia. No one was injured, but TowBoat Savannah reported that the boat lost stability quickly and could not be salvaged. The Coast Guard said its station in Charleston, South Carolina, heard at report over Channel 16 that the boat, Nauty Thoughts, had hit the north Savannah jetties, and had asked for help from TowBoatUS. This was at 10:55 p.m. on Monday. The yacht’s crew said it was aground and taking on water, with five people on board. The Coast Guard dispatched a 45-foot…

Runaway Boat Hits Sailboat in San Diego. See Videos

By Peter Janssen on May 26, 2020 Cruising Life

MISSION BAY Runaway Boat Causes Havoc on Mission Bay Danyelle Wolf, a three-time USA Boxing National Champion, captured video of the incident By Sophia McCullough • Published May 24, 2020 • Updated on May 25, 2020 at 11:31 pm Danyelle Wolf Drone footage of the runaway boat taken by Danyelle Wolf on May 23, 2020. A runaway motorboat caused quite a scene Saturday on Mission Bay. San Diego lifeguards said the operator lost control of the boat, knocking all of the occupants off and leaving the boat to steer itself. Video shows it making a wide arc, possibly towing an…

Now: Social Distance on Your Own Luxury Island Privè

By Peter Janssen on May 25, 2020 Cruising Life

Here’s a new way to practice social distancing – or just have some fun on the water. It’s called Luxury Island Privè, and it’s an inflatable that you can anchor in calm water just about anywhere. The Luxury Island Privè (pictured at top) is made by the Italian company Yacht Extension, and it lets you create your own oasis to sunbathe on soft cushions, relax in a pool with a net protecting you from jellyfish, have a relaxing drink at sunset, or simply get away from it all. When you’re done, roll it up in its own container and take…

Maine Adopts New Protocols For Cruising There

By Peter Janssen on May 25, 2020 Cruising Life

Cruising in Maine will be a little different this summer, at least for the start of the summer. The state has a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving from other states, while some Maine builders and marina operators have adopted new protocols of their own. “It’s important to understand that Maine is open,” said Stacey Keefer, executive director of the Maine Marine Trades Association. And Maine remains one of the most iconic and desirable cruising destinations in the United States, if not the world. But this year officials in Maine, just like officials in many other states and localities, have…

Fishing Boat Burns, Sinks, off Point Judith, RI. See Video

By Peter Janssen on May 24, 2020 Cruising Life

A 40-foot fishing boat caught fire and sank about 2.5 miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, last week. The Coast Guard rescued all three people on board; they were not injured. The Coast Guard station in Point Judith heard a VHF Mayday call on Channel 16 at 11:01 a.m. saying that the boat was on fire. It dispatched two boats, and other boats were scrambled from the Narragansett Fire Department, Newport, and North Kingston. After the three crew members were taken off the fishing boat, the firefighters fought the blaze, pouring water onto the vessel. After two hours, it…

NOAA Update: Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Coming

By Peter Janssen on May 23, 2020 Cruising Life

May 21, 2020 An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to…

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